Legislator fines $ 106,000 to hide Alec Baldwin’s payments

From Yue Stella YuCalmness

This story was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

Former California Assembly member, Evan Law, uses his non -profit non -profit organization to pay more than $ 227,000 to actor Alec Baldwin to appear at a technological event and a separate low -level fundraising, and then deliberately tried to conceal payments, the designated righteous policy.

The agency, which is charged with the implementation of the California Campaign Financing Laws, has loaded low 18 violations, including no payments on time and poor records. As part of an agreement with the agency, Low and his political committee have agreed to pay a $ 106,000 fine.

Low, his lawyer Amber Maltby, and a non -profit lawyer, did not respond to a request for a comment on Calmatters accusations.

Initially, Lowe told investigators that Baldwin came on February 7, 2020, raising funds under his “own agreement” as a volunteer. But the committee cites numerous messages between organizers who want to cover up Non -Profit payments to Baldwin in the contract project.

The allegations were included in a steadfast report published on Friday by the agency responsible for the implementation of the laws on the financing of the campaign and ethics of the state. He found that Low also missed the deadline to reveal nearly $ 228,000, which he collected for various non -profit organizations, failed to monitor campaign transactions and illegally close his campaign account without paying a non -profit fees for Baldwin’s appearance.

The probe caused by Calmatters reporting

The proposed punishment stems from a five -year FPPC investigation into the low and non -profit purpose, which he founded, the Technology and Innovation Economy Foundation in California. Well started the same day Published Calmatters his third contribution from his series “Sweet Charity” Detailed about the relationship between Low and the group.

The findings show “a knowledge and a willing experience to overcome the law,” said Sean McMoris of the California common cause, a group for ethical observers. “I think the public will feel misled in the least and probably this impracticality happened.”

Low agreed to the agreement, paid the costs associated with Baldwin, and revealed these payments to settle the case, according to the agency.

Low, who co-founder and co-chair of the TECH CAUCUS of the State Legislative Authority, raised money from technology giants for the Foundation-Non-Purpose observed by three people closely related to itS His then chief employee Gina Frisby served as his cashier.

The Foundation hosted annual meetings at the top of politics, where technology leaders and lobbyists pay five digits Mix privately with civil servants.

In 2020, Baldwin appeared at the Tech Policy summit in Cupertino to visit lunch, Calmatters reportsS

Later That Night, Baldwin Was Shuttled in a Luxury Vehicle to a Chinese Restaurant in the Heart of San Jose’s Little Saigon as “Special Celebrity Guest” For Low’s Ticketed Fundrais Year Celebration, Accredit to FPPC findings and a Facebook page of the eventS

“For the year of rats, expect big surprises and a big name,” said the description of Low funding. “Believe me, you won’t want to miss this special Presidential event!”

Baldwin had a repeated appearance playing President Donald Trump on Saturday night live at that time.

–So two separate contracts, but the money under one?–

The Non -Profit Foundation paid Baldwin to divide its time between two events, but tried to conceal the payment amount for fundraising, found FPPC.

The staff working for both Low and Non -Profit, suggested to prepare two separate contracts with Baldwin, stating that he would voluntarily attend the Low event, the findings show. But employees with a representative of Baldwin, a creative artist agency, seemed confused by the agreement.

“So two separate contracts, but all the money under one? But this is not voluntary. If he does not, he will still be paid the full fee,” a representative wrote in 2019 to the non -profit purpose on behalf of Baldwin.

Lowe told investigators in April 2023 that Baldwin had voluntarily joined the fundraising and that he did not participate in the hiring of the actor. But this January Law has admitted that he consciously failed to disclose these payments and has to pay the expenses, FPPC noted.

Lowe, a Democrat from Campbell, who represented the Silicon Valley for 10 years in the legislation of the state, unsuccessfully run for congress last year, losing to the former mayor of San Jose Sam Likardo after a close primary one. He is now the president and CEO of the National LGBTQ+victory.

During his legislative years, Low has helped to create numerous legislative causes and chaired three of them, and his staff worked for Kakus foundations. HairdresseFor example, he submitted legislative reports on the funds that are low in the technology foundation as a cashier of the Foundation, while serving as chief of LOW. Daniel Sress, a consultant who works for Assembly Committee Low Presidency in 2018.Serves as a consultant to the Technology Foundation, FPPC has discovered.

The crossover of the staff between the Low and the Foundation talks about a “clear coordination” between the two, McMoris said.

“This emphasizes the seriousness and the apparent violation,” he said. “In all stages of this process, the same people were involved with everything.”

Low too late – sometimes with almost two years – to reveal $ 227,500, which he collected for non -profit organizations, including the Technology Foundation, despite the law requiring most of these payments to be disclosed within 30 days, FPPC concluded.

Given that Frisby served as the Foundation Director, and Low himself created the Technology Foundation, information about these payments “should be easily obtained and timely,” said FPPC employees.

Over the years Low has reported Raising $ 505,000 For the Technology Foundation. These funds are called “watched payments” – donations to an organization or agency at the request of a politician. Ethics defenders have warned that payments can provide special interest groups to lawmakers and ways to intervene in favor of them.

Lowe had raised over $ 400,000 for non -profit purpose before taking Baldwin’s presence section of Low funding, according to Calmatters analysis of state campaigns financing records.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.